11 February 2020

6 Great Inexpensive Snow Pants for Women

By Marie Davis Women

Published 11 February 2020

Last updated 7 June 2021

Finding cheap women’s snow pants for skiing, snowboarding, tobogganing, or any other winter activity can be a challenge. There are a lot of higher-end brands that charge a few hundred dollars for the most advanced fabric technology that is perfect for skiers. But if you don’t want to spend a lot of money and still want to stay warm and dry while doing winter activities, there are a few great options out there that won’t break the bank. We have come up with a list of some of the best quality, inexpensive brands that don’t cost a fortune but will keep you warm and dry in the coldest weather.

Arctix Women’s Insulated Snow Pant

A great budget brand option is the Arctix Women’s Insulated Snow Pant. They are a lightweight, moderately insulated, water-resistant style. They aren’t bulky but will keep you warm and dry without having to worry that you will get too hot. Since they are lightweight, so you will want to wear this style with layers underneath. They come in 9 different colors and have an excellent flattering fit for most body types. You can wear this style for snow-based activities, as they have reinforced ankles and snaps at the bottom of the leg that you can fit over your boots, so you don’t have to worry about snow getting in. The zippered pockets are well placed at the sides and lined with fleece, which is a nice touch for a design in this price range. They are easy to get on and off, partly because of the zipper fly. Since the sizing tends to be limited with snow pants, they also have an adjustable waist, and loopholes for a belt so you can get the right fit. Overall this Arctix style has excellent reviews and is a reasonable price for what you are getting.

Available from Amazon

Nonwe Women’s Warm Water-resistant Workouts Fleece Climbing Skiing Snow Pants

These Nonwe Women’s Warm Water-resistant Snow Pants aren’t your standard snow design, but they may work for you if you are looking for style, comfort, warmth, and a great fit. They are more like a regular pant that you can wear in temperatures that would be nice to wear something warmer, but you would feel self-conscious about the bulk. They are great for activities like winter hiking, camping, and cycling, as well as skiing and tobogganing. They have a little bit of stretch to them and are relatively thick with a fleece lining. The waistband is not adjustable, but they do have a loophole that you can use for a belt. What makes them a good option for the snow is that they are very waterproof, so you will be able to stay dry. They also have a tonne of pockets, including front and back pockets and side cargo pockets. Most reviewers report that they are incredibly comfortable because of the stretchy fabric and are very warm.

Available from Amazon

TSLA Women’s Snow Pants

The TSLA Women’s Snow Pants is a good choice if you are looking for a traditional style that will keep you warm and dry in the winter months. The design is somewhat of a relaxed fit, but that makes them excellent for layering and gives you a lot of room for movement, so you won’t feel confined while doing winter activities. The waist is straightforward to adjust, and they have a built-in gaiter that will keep the snow out. They have two zip pockets in the front that are great for storing smaller items and keeping your hands extra warm in a pinch. Most women find that they are very warm and do an excellent job of staying dry.

Available from Amazon

Columbia Women’s Bugaboo

The Columbia Bugaboo is a popular option that works well for most outdoor winter activities. You can get them with Columbia’s Omni-heat technology (small reflective silver dots on the inside of the garment that reflects and retains the warmth and heat that your body generates) or without. You will probably pay a little bit more for Omni-heat, but they will be a bit less bulky but just as warm as the bugaboo without the Omni-heat. The regular price for the Bugaboo is usually $100- $150, but they are a great style to look for at the end of the season, as they typically go on sale for up to 50% off. If you choose the pant without Omni-heat, they come with an insulated liner, and they are roomy enough that you can comfortably wear them with a layer to help you stay warm. Many people say that they find that Columbia sizing often runs small, although I have a pair of Bugaboo without the Omni-heat and find them to be quite roomy and seem to be standard sizing (I have a medium size). The Bugaboo has Velcro adjustments that can be moved to adjust at least 2.5 – 3″ smaller or larger. They also have zippered pockets on both sides, flap pockets on the rear, and another zippered pocket on the right leg (the placement of the pocket is lower on the thigh for the Omni-heat style). They do come in short as well as regular inseams, which is an excellent option if you find bottoms too long for you. Overall they are slightly bulky, but they are very comfortable and easy to move around in.

Available from Columbia

Arctix Women’s Insulated Bib Overalls

If you are looking for a bib style, there aren’t as many options available, but a good one to check out is the Arctix Women’s Insulated Bib Overalls. They are lightweight and low bulk, which is good since bibs can tend to fall on the bulky side of things. They come with suspenders that you can adjust for fit in addition to having a stretchy insert on the sides that give you a little bit more room. I don’t love the bib style because I find they ride up on me and become uncomfortable, but if you have issues with snow or ski bottoms falling, they are probably a good option to try. The reinforced ankle and the boot gaiter will keep snow out of your boots and keep everything staying warm and dry. This style has two large side pockets, a long zippered, and the bib feature will give you a little bit of extra warmth on your torso area. Overall this bib is reportedly super warm, well-insulated, waterproof, and very durable.

Available from Amazon

SkiGear Women’s Waterproof Insulated Ski Pants

The SkiGear Women’s Waterproof Insulated Ski Pants are another excellent option if you want a decent quality style that will keep you warm and dry. Most women find this SkiGear style to have a good fit while at the same time being very comfortable. This garment is a looser fit that leaves lots of room for layering in case you need to adjust the temperature level. The extra room in the leg also allows for a full range of motion for whatever type of winter activity you may be doing. The waist has adjustable Velcro so you can tighten or loosen for your body type. Overall they are a solid choice that will keep you warm and dry for a great price.

Available from Amazon

What to Look For

Warmth

Snow pants need to keep you warm, why else would you bother buying them. You can add heat by layering them with long underwear or leggings depending on what activity you are doing. With less expensive designs, the insulation that provides the warmth can lead to some bulk in the fit, so you may want to keep that in mind when you are shopping. The styles listed above are, for the most part, well insulated and warm while still being relatively bulk-free.

Waterproof

When doing outdoor winter activities, not only do you want a warm style, you will also want it to be waterproof. The garments on our list are all waterproof or water-resistant and will give you excellent protection from the rain and snow. Waterproofing is probably the key feature to consider because if your clothes aren’t going to keep you warm and dry, you won’t be able to enjoy yourself.

Style

It’s hard to get a stylish, flattering fit if you also want something that is going to keep you toasty warm. The most flattering fit of the styles that we have chosen is probably the Arctix Women’s Insulated Snow Pant. Most of the other options have a more classic look with a relaxed fit that is best for layering. Many of the brands have a wide variety of color options to choose from, some in unique, vibrant colors.

Pockets

Pockets are one of those features you don’t think about until you realize you don’t have any. A nice to have feature is at least one, but preferably two well placed, deep, zippered pockets. I like pockets that are big enough to put my hands in that can hold a decent amount of stuff if need be. If the pocket comes with a fleece lining that is a bonus, but not standard in budget options for women.

Fit

The fits for different brands are kind of all over the place because the styles and lengths are not one standard size. The things to keep in mind when looking for a good fit, especially if you are ordering online, is whether you want the pant to be loose or fitted, whether you are planning on wearing layers (if so maybe go up a size), and the inseam length. If the design is too long, it can be a real issue.

Comfort

Apart from finding a pant that is a great fit, to get the most comfortable option, you will also want to get a style that you can move freely in, in particular having some room in the knee and the thigh area. You may also want to consider an adjustable waist so they stay up or you can loosen them if it is too tight. Another key for comfort is stretchy fabrics that have a little bit of give to them, making moving around easier.

Sizing

It can be challenging to get the sizing right since there aren’t as many different sizes available. Snow pants usually come in sizes ranging from XS-XL. If you are planning on layering, you may want to consider sizing up.

Ventilation

Budget styles don’t tend to have much in the way of ventilation to let you cool down if you start to get too warm. A good ventilation system means that you can use the pants in better weather where you may get wet from slushy snow, but may also overheat if the temperature is too warm. If you do find that you overheat in regular snow pants, you may have to look for higher-end brands that include a ventilation system.